HYPER^EMIA AND CATARRH. 13 



macliine of Sales- Giron and its modifications by Waldenburg, eioi?i, 

 and Schintzler. In the second sort, small quantities of the liquid for 

 inhalation are " nebulized " by the action of a jet of compressed air. 

 The nephogene of Matthieu is thus formed, as well as the more simple 

 and cheaper hydroconion of JBergson, which I formerly used at the 

 clinique. By the happy ingenuity of Single the apparatus of Jlergson 

 has been so modified as to substitute steam for the current of compressed 

 air, which nebulizes the medicament. This cheap instrument of Single, 

 with its various modifications, consisting chiefly in the exchange of the 

 fragile retort of the original for a small boiler of tinned brass, for the 

 production of steam, has such advantages over all other inhalation ma- 

 chines, as to have almost universally superseded them. At my clinique, 

 instruments made on Single's principle are the only ones in use. The 

 controversy, as to whether the liquid inhaled actually penetrates into the 

 air passages, has been decided. The fact is beyond all doubt. In 

 recent catarrhs, with scanty and tough secretion, it is best to use a solu- 

 tion of sal-ammoniac or of common salt for inhalation (gr. x xx. to 

 j). In catarrh of longer standing, in which the secretion is more 

 copious and muco-purulent, a solution of alum (gr. v x : j), tannin 

 (gr. ij x : | j), argent, nitrat. (gr. i x : 3 j). During inhalation of 

 the latter, hi order to avoid staining the patient's face, a mask must be 

 used, or else an appliance such as accompanies the apparatus which we 

 employ. I am unable to state, from my own experience, whether the 

 inhalations of narcotic solutions (morphias acet. gr. -J : j), (tr. 

 opii gr. ij iv : f j), (ext. hyoscyami gr. ss j : f j) are of any mate- 

 rial service in allaying the impulse to cough. 



By exaggerated praise of the treatment by inhalation, a discovery 

 of real value has not only been retarded but often brought into positive 

 discredit in the estimation of thoughtful men, who have failed to ver- 

 ify its great success in treatment of the various diseases of the air-pas- 

 sages. However, " in emptying the bath, one need not spill the baby." 

 The introduction of the inhalation apparatus does not mark a new era 

 in therapeutics ; nevertheless, inveterate pharyngeal and laryngeal ca- 

 tarrhs, which have resisted all modes of treatment, are now often cured, 

 after persevering inhalation of a solution of alum or of nitrate of silver 

 For some very sensitive patients, however, the inhalation of astringents 

 is contraindicated, since, in a few instances, haemoptysis has set in, 

 either during the process or immediately after it. 



Spray-baths and inhalation-rooms have been established of late in 

 many well-known watering-places, particularly at the "brine-baths" 

 (Soolbadern). The most simple baths of brine-spray are the prome- 

 nades and galleries along the salt-works of Kreutznach, Koesen, Elmen, 

 and Reichenhall. The atmosphere there is heavily charged with a weak 

 solution of chloride of sodium. At Kreutznach and Reichenhall the 



